Union Suing American Airlines, Citing Safety Issues

Local 591 of the Transport Workers Union is suing American Airlines (AA), claiming that air carrier supervisors pressured them to clear planes to fly that were not, in their judgement, airworthy,The Associated Press reported via ABC News.

The lawsuit, filed in a Chicago federal court, states that AA managers urged mechanics to ignore such major issues as hydraulic leaks and wiring faults, and to skip inspections after lightning or bird strikes. It also says that AA managers responded to any safety objection with threats of termination or arrest. The specter of retaliation was reportedly held over the heads of those who reported missing equipment, maintenance issues on a cabin door seal, and cracked engine pylons to the Department of Labor.

AA is denying the allegations, and spokesman Casey Norton said they work with the FAA "so that American's maintenance programs, practices, procedures, and overall compliance and safety are second to none." He said the FAA team that oversees American has not alerted the airline "to any current critical issues or concerns."

FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said, "We are aware of allegations, but it's under investigation and we can't comment further."

American has been investigated for maintenance issues by the FAA before, having to ground its entire MD-80 fleet in 2008 over improper wiring, and faced steep fines.

Relations have been rocky with labor unions affiliated with AA workers, and there has even been divisions within the union itself.

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